Refrigerator



Nov. 13, 1951 J. w. CHAMBERLAIN REFRIGERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1.946

Nov. 13, 1951 J, w, CHAMBERLAIN 2,575,094

REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J73 .fg'g i5 IN VEN TOR.

J. W. CHAMBERLAIN REFRIGERATOR Nov. 13, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Joseph W. Chamberlain, Holland, Mich.

Application September 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,875

10 Claims.

This invention relates in general to refrigerators and particularly to a type oflrefrigerator which is designed for cooling fluids and the like. More especially, the invention relates to the cooling of milk and the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is an improvement over the device disclosed by me in Patent No. 2,380,901 issued July 31, 1945.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a structure wherein a fluid such as milk can be economically cooled in less time than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet within which the substance to be cooled can be placed in a container and have a coolant pass in heat-exchange relation therewith to thereby cool the fluid.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide novel means for continually agitating the fluid in the container while it is being cooled thereby further reducing the cooling time.

.Still another object is to provide a novel form of cabinet which is compact and whereby a number of containers may be stored after cooling to maintain the fluid at substantially the same temperature to which it was reduced during the cooling operation.

A still further object is to provide novel supporting means for the, container within which the fluid is located to facilitate the placing of the containers within the cabinet and the removal of the containers therefrom.

Another object is to provide a novel form of water tank or ice compartment to insure greater efficiency in the operation of the device.

A further object is to so locate the novel ice compartment within the cabinet so as to provide Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the water tank or ice compartment with a part of the frame a broken away to show more clearly the details of construction thereof;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of line 66 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section through the front of the cabinet with the doors in closed position showing various forms of the gasket structure in detail. I

The present form of the invention has many advantages over coolers of this type heretofore known and especially over the device disclosed in my previously issued patent above referred to. A cabinet is provided within which a container having a fluid thereinto be cooled may be placed for cooling and for storage thereafter. The invention is designed primarily for use by dairies in the cooling of milk and for convenience, the containers may be referred to as milk cans and the fluid to be cooled may be referred to as milk.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the cabinet taken substantially along the plane of line 3-3 of F18. 1;

However, I do not intend this reference to be a limitation on the scope of the invention, since it will be obvious that other types of containers for cooling other fluids maybe used.

In general, the device operates in accordance with my earlier patent wherein a quantity of a coolant. such as water, is caused to flow over and around a quantity of ice preferably formed by cooling or refrigerating coils, after which the water is directed over the sides of the milk can or container for cooling the milk therein, and then recirculated. Similar to my previous device, I prefer to use a perforated pan into which the used or warm water is first directed in order that the water may be distributed evenly over the cake of ice and cooled. The controlbulb for cutting in the compressor is preferably located near the top of the first ice cake and set to cut in at a temperature above the freezing point of the coolant, which would be above 32 F. in the case of water, so that the compressor will start to func tion within a predetermined period of time after beginning the cooling operation to replace the melted ice. It will then cut out the compressor at a predetermined temperature below the freezing point of the coolant. f

In the present invention, however, I have designed a novel form of water tank or ice compartment which is compact and which is preferably located against the back .or across one end of the cabinet in the upper portion thereof.

In the size of cabinet disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, there is sufficient room in front of the ice compartment on a shelf at the upper part of the cabinet for storing at least two milk cans containing cool milk. By locating the ice compartment in the upper part of the cabinet, it permits the storage of four other containers in the lower part of the cabinet.

By agitating the milk in the container during the cooling operation, the cooling time can be considerably lessened and I have found that by such agitation I have been able to effectively cool a conventional can of milk from a temperature of approximately 95 F. down to around 45-50 F. in about 10 minutes or less. Some forms of agitators use the principle of a stirring rod with a paddle at the lower end thereof and rotate this rod during the cooling operation. This method, however, is not only less convenient, but may not meet the health regulations in various parts of the countr because of the fact that water, dirt and other impurities may get into the milk. To overcome this, I have designed a novel agitating device which incorporates the use of a movable frame into which the milk can may be set and which is adapted to rotate or revolve during the cooling operation, thus causing a movement of the container and a consequent agitation of the milk therein.

By placing the novel form of ice compartment at the top of the cabinet, I not only provide more storage space than has been possible heretofore, but the low temperature of the cooled milk can be effectively maintained due to the natural circulation of cold air in the cabinet which tends to move downwardly. In furtherance of the necessity of storing cooled milk and maintaining a low temperature within the cabinet, I have designed a novel form of gasket to be used on the doors and at the front of the cabinet to prevent any of the cool air from leaving the cabinet as well as to prevent warm air from entering, to prevent moisture from getting to the insulation, and to eliminate the necessity of using a center post for the doors to close against when two or more doors are used.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the specific embodiment of the invention as illustrated herein contemplates a cabinet having the usual insulated sides I and 2, the insulated back 3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5 also composed of a heavy insulated material. The front of the cabinet is normally open and may be closed by the doors 6 and 1, also formed of an insulated material.

The novel form of water tank or ice compartment is shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 5 and is generally indicated by the numeral 8. While this compartment may assume numerous different forms and still accomplish the desired results, the specific form shown herein for purposes of illustration consists of a front 9, a back l0, end members II and I2, and a bottom l3. It will be noted that the bottom I3 slopes downwardly toward the rear of the cabinet for a purpose which may be more fully understood hereinafter.

The compartment 8 is then divided by means of a partition l4 having a horizontal perforated bottom H: which joins the front 9 of the compartment at substantially the juncture of the bottom l3 therewith. The partition I4 divides the compartment into two chambers, a rear chamber [6 and a front chamber II. A plurality of cooling coils l8 are located in the chamber [6 and are preferably spaced closer together near the upper part of the chamber and farther apart near the bottom thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. By so spacing the cooling coils, more ice will form in the upper part of the chamber than will form in the lower part thereof. More ice is desirable at the top where the warmer water strikes the ice first after the cooling operation.

Similar cooling coils 9 are located in the front chamber I1 and are adapted to form a quantity of ice therein in the same manner that ice will be formed in the rear chamber I6. This practice is similar to that carried out in my earlier refrigerators.

A compressor 20 may be located on top of the cabinet and may be of any commercial design, the operation of which is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail here. A conduit 2| extends from the compressor to one end of the cooling coils, carrying a refrigerant therethrough to the expansion valve 22, thus lowering the temperature of the coils l9 and [8 through which it passes, to such a point that a quantity of ice will be formed.

A pan 23 is located above the cooling coils l8 in the rear chamber [6 and is provided with a perforated bottom 24 so that as water is pumped from the bottom of the cabinet after the cooling operation, it will be directed into the pan 23 which will distribute the water evenly over the coils, or the ice which has been formed around them.

A temperature control bulb 25 is preferably located adjacent the upper row of coils and at a predetermined distance below the surface of the block of ice formed in the rear chamber IS. The warm water being distributed through the perforations in the pan 23 will immediately melt the ice at the top thereof and when the ice around the bulb 25 has been melted, the bulb will begin operation of the compressor through a suitable connection 26 comprising a capillary tubing connected to the control which is wired to the compressor motor. This operation will continue until the melted ice has re-formed. This phase of the operation of the refrigerator is adequately described in more detail in my above referred to earlier patent.

A trough 21 having a long rear side 2111 is located at the forward side of the ice chamber, preferably on the inside thereof and near the top, which is provided with an inclined bottom 28. The rear side 21a constitutes a long partition or weir over which the water flows into the trough. The purpose of this construction is to cause water to flow back to the spray ring as soon as possible after the pump is started (in practice about 5 seconds), and to prevent a large volume of water from backing up allowing water to run over the spray ring for an unusually long time after the pump is shut off. In practice the water shuts off of the spray ring in about 10 seconds after the pump stops.

At the lowest point of the bottom, a pipe connection 29 is located to permit water to leave the trough and be delivered to the spray ring. Another outlet 30 is connected at one end of the trough 21 to bypass some of the cooling fluid which does not pass through the pipe 29. This feature is also disclosed in my earlier patent and the bypassed water may be returned to the bottom of the cabinet where it will mix with the warm water which has been used to cool the milk.

the bottom of the cabinet where it falls after passing over the container within which the milk or other fluid to be cooled is located. A pump 3| is provided at the rear of the cabinet and at the bottom thereof which is driven by means of a shaft 32 connected to a motor 33 preferably located at or on the top of the cabinet. During operation of the pump, it will draw water into the. opening 35 thereof which has a conduit 35 connected therewith and which, at its upper end 36,

is bent or otherwise formed so as to deliver-the used warm water into the pan 23.

The water thus distributed through the perforations at the bottom of the pan 23 will pass downwardly over the ice in the rear chamber I6 which has been formed by the'refrigerant passing through the coils l8. Within a predetermined time after the warmer water begins to melt the ice, the temperature of the control bulb 25 will be elevated sufficiently to begin operation of the compressor 20 and thus start to re-form the ice which has been melted. The water then passes downwardly through and around the ice in the chamber is and when it reaches the bottom thereof it will be forced upwardly through the openings in the bottom i5 of the partition l4. Here again the water will work its way upwardly through the chamber I1 and around the ice formed therein and will overflow into the trough 21, at which time it will have been thoroughly cooled to enable it to be passed in heat-exchange relation with the milk can. The cooled water passes outwardly through the outlet 29 and the conduit 31 connected thereto, which carries it to the spray ring 38 suitably mounted within the cabinet and so located as to partially surround the neck of a milk can or other container 39. For purposes of illustration, the conduit 31 has been shown as being connected to one end of the spray ring 38, but it may be desirable in actual practice to make this connection at substantially the center of the ring which will afford a more even dis tributlon of the spray over the container. An important advantage of this construction is that it will allow water to flow over the sides of the compartment and to melt channels down the inside surfaces thereof in the event that something should go wrong with the controls and the water therein should freeze solid. It will be obvious that. this entire ice compartment need not necessarily be mounted at the rear upper part of the cabinet, but might be mounted, for example, across one end thereof. Also, if de-- sired, it may be made more shallow and extend across the top of the box and have a series of connected chambers similar to that shown in my above referred to patent. For practical purposes, however, I prefer to so design the compartment that it can be easily removed or dropped down for cleaning purposes.

One of the principal features of this invention is the novel arrangement which I have provided for agitating the fluid being cooled during the cooling operation. I have found it highly satisfactory to continually move the container 3') during the cooling period, and one manner in which this may be accomplished is to provide a frame generally indicated by the numeral 49, within which the container may be supported. This frame may be placed at any suitable location within the cabinet and has a top 4! connected by means of downwardly extending side members 42 and 43 to the bottom 44. A brace 45 may also be located at the back of the frame and extend between the top and bottom thereof to thus form a more rigid structure.

The bottom of the frame may be provided with an inverted cone-shaped supporting member 46 which is adapted to rest in the bottom of a concave member 41 (see Fig. 4). This type of constructionwill admit of a rotary or revolving motion of the frame about the bottom of the inverted cone as a pivot point.

The top 4| of the frame is provided with a bearing member 48 adapted to support one end of an eccentric shaft 49. The upper end of this shaft 49 has suitably mounted thereon a pulley 50 which is driven by means of a belt 5| from a smaller pulley 52 secured to the motor shaft 32. It will be evident that when the motor 33 is operating, as it normally will be during the cooling operation, the large pulley 59 will rotate, carrying with it the eccentric shaft 49 and causing a rotary or revolving movement of the entire frame 49 about the pivotal point 46. The container 39 is adapted to fit snugly within the frame, and the side members 42 and 43 are preferably provided with bumpers 42a and 43a formed of rubber belting or other suitable material. Any movement which may be imparted to the frame 49 will carry with it the container 39 thus agitating the fluid contained therein and considerably shortening the time necessary to cool the fluid down to the desired temperature.

I have also provided a novel supporting platform to facilitate the placing of the containers within the cabinet'and their removal therefrom. Reference will now be made to Figs. 1, 3 and 6 where it will be seen that a plurality of spaced supporting members 53, 54 and 55 extend rearwardly from the front of the cabinet at the bottom thereof. A plurality of rollers 56 are located between the members 53 and 54 at the front of the cabinet so that a container placed thereon may be easily moved rearwardly over these rollers. The bottom of the frame 40 is also provided with rollers 51 and 58 so that when the container is moved rearwardly, it may be easily located within the frame and fit snugly against the bumpers located at the sides and back thereof.

Similar rollers 59 are secured between the sides 54 and 55 and extend from the front of the cabinet to the rear thereof so that after the fluid in the container 39 has been reduced to the proper temperature, it may be removed and stored at the other side of the cabinet as indicated, for example, by the containers 60. These containers can easily be moved within the cabinet by sliding them over the roller tracks.

For the purpose of preventing the milk cans from catching on the roller when the frame 40 is not in a position exactly level with the rollers 56, I have tapered the central portions of roller 51 and the adjacent roller 56 to a V to make them smaller in diameter at their centers.

For the purpose of keeping the can from moving on the rollers 51 and 58 while it is being rotated, -I have tapered the ends of the roller 58 so that the can, when it is pushed back in position in the frame 49, will roll off of the back roller and rest on a rigid portion of the bottom of the frame 49.

It will be obvious that the frame 40 may be built without rollers and placed near the front of the cabinet.

It will also be understood that larger sizes of farm coolers may be built with more than one shaker device and more than one spray ring.

As mentioned hereinbefore, an important feature is the design of the cabinet and the location therein of the various operating parts to enable a number of containers to be kept therein for storage purposes in a comparatively small and compact space. For example, it will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cabinet is of a size suitable for accommodating four ordinary milk cans. By locating the water tank or ice compartment at the upper part of the cabinet and at the rear or at the end thereof, there will be sufficient room in front of or at the end of the chamber for the storage of two more ordinary milk cans. It, will, of course, be obvious that the cabinet may be made wider to accommodate more cans for storage, but the unit disclosed herein is particularly suitable for an ordinary small sized dairy farm.

In order to support additional cans for storage at the upper part of the cabinet. I provide an upper platform or deck 6| having a plurality of spaced supporting bars 62 extending between the rear member 63 and the front member 64 thereof. The entire platform-may rest on or be secured to the side supporting brackets 65. This platform is of suflicient width to support ordinary milk cans in front of the water tank or ice compartment and as many may be located thereon as the width of the cabinet will permit. The procedure will be to successively cool a plurality of cans of milk, and as each one has been cooled, it will be removed from the frame and deposited either on the platform 6| or on the rollers 59. The last can cooled may remain within the frame 40 and as long as the doors 6 and I are kept closed, the natural circulation of air within'the cabinet, by reason of the ice formed in the chamber 8, will keep the milk at the required temperature until ready for use or delivery.

In a cooler with ice in the bottom of the type described in my previous patents, the upper deck or can platform may also be used. This upper deck may also be hinged or removable so that it may be moved when not in use to provide more room for handling cans on the lower deck.

As another important feature of my refrigerator, I have designed novel gasket and sealing means whereby to accomplish several objects which have heretofore been found to be the source of considerable trouble. For example, if water or moisture reaches the insulation between the sides of the cabinet and doors the efficiency of the refrigerator is impaired, and yet it is necessary to provide means to prevent ingress of warm air and egress of cool air by the use of gaskets between the cabinet and doors. Furthermore, a problem arises in sealing the doors at the center in the absence of a center post, which would impair the handling of the cans. I realize that the provision of flexible rubber gaskets between the door and cabinet of a refrigerator are not of themselves novel. However, I have devised novel means for securing such rubber or other flexible type of gaskets in place and so positioning them as to increase their efficiency. Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawings, I have shown several dif-- ferent types of gasket securing means, any one of which may be used in all instances or they may be utilized substantially as shown.

For example, the forward edge of each of the side members I and 2 of the cabinet are shown as provided with one form of gasket means, and a description of one will suflice for both. The outer metallic wall 66 of the side member I is turned inwardly as at 61 to form the front wall of the 8 side member. This front wall then extends rearwardly a short distance as at 88. The inner wall 10 of the side member extends towd the outer wall as at H and has an inwardly extending portion 12 spaced from the similar portion 88 of the outer wall.

The gasket extends substantially the full length of the side member and one of the preferred forms thereof includes spaced side members 14 which are adapted to receive a length of material 16 such as wood therebetween. Inwardly extending ribs 16 will normally bear against the edge of the wood members I6 and the front of the gasket will be completed by means of the arcuate portion TI. The portion 11 is adapted to extend forwardly beyond the edge of the side member I and will be deformed when the door 8 is closed thereagainst so as to effectually seal the space between the door and the front of the cabinet. This form of construction is particularly advantageous from the standpoint of assembly. I prefer to place another length of material 18, such as wood, between the portion 12 and the inner wall 10. A similar member 19 is located between the outer wall 66 and the portion 68. A plurality of elongated screws or retaining members may then be inserted through the inner wall 10, the block 18, the spaced side members 14 of the gasket, and the blocks 15 and 19. Thus it will be evident that after the inner and outer walls of the side members have been thoroughly insulated, the gasket member can then be inserted in place as above described and will effectively seal the gasket when the door is closed against the escape of cold air, and also effectively seal the insulation against moisture.

As an additional precaution, I prefer to form a double seal between the door and the side members of the cabinet and the particular gasket about to be described may be a duplicate of the one mentioned above, or the construction may be modified whereby the inner wall 8| of the door 8 will have a forwardly bent portion 82 terminating in an outward portion 83. The outer wall 84 of the door may be returned bent as at 85 in spaced relation to the portion 82 for purposes of receiving the spaced side members 86 of the gasket between which a block or length of wood 81 may be located. The outer arcuate portion 88 of, the gasket extends normally beyond the inner wall 8| of the door and is adapted to strike or bear against the forward edge of the side when the door is closed, thus deforming the portion 88 and forming an effective seal. In securing this gasket to the door, it may be done by the simple expedient of locating a length or block of wood 89 between the inner and outer walls of the door so that it bears against the portion 82. An elongated screw 90 may be inserted from the outer edge of the door so that it will extend through the sides 86 of the gasket and the blocks 81 and 89. A plurality of these screws spaced vertically along the edge of the door simplifies the placing of the second gasket, thus forming a double seal between the door and the cabinet. This double seal construction will extend not only along the outer edge of each door, but also across the top and bottom thereof.

An effective double seal is also provided at the inner edges of the two doors by having the inner wall of one of the doors extend beyond the edge thereof in the form of a lip 9|. This lip may be integral with the inner wall 92 of the door 1 or may be secured thereto. A bulged portion 93 is provided throughout the length of the lip, which desired. In this form of gasket, the inner wall 92 of the door 'I has a terminal portion 94 extending forwardly, while the outer wall of the door extends inwardly and is return bent as at 96 in spaced relation to the portion 94 so as to receive the. spaced sides 91 of the rubber gasket. A block of wood 98 may be received between the sides 91 of the gasket to permit the inner arcuate portion 99 of the gasket to be flexed inwardly and be .deformed to form an effective seal throughout the length of the door. A length of wood orsimilar material I00 is adapted to extend between the inner and outer walls of.the door and bear against the portion 94 so that a plurality of spaced screws I 0| may be passed through from the inner edge of. the door to the provided with rollers as described herein, facilitates the placing of' the heavy milk cans and moving them within the cabinet. Furthermore, the general construction is such as to permit the storage of a large number of milk cans in a comparatively small space, thus making. it possible I to manufacture the device more economically and length of wood I00 passing through the block 98 and the sides 91 of the gasket in a similar manner as that described above. 7

The construction of the gasket on the door 6 will be very similar wherein the inner arcuate face I02 of the gasket will be free to flex and be deformed when it strikes the lip 9|. A similar length of wood I03 is disposed between the sides of the gasket and the entire assembly will be held in place by means of the screws I04 entering from the edge of the door through the gasket and into the length orblock of wood I05.

It will thus be observed that very effective sealing means between the doors and the cabinet will be accomplished by the above described construction. When the doors are closed, the double gaskets I1 and 88 will seal the sides, top and bottom while the two gaskets 99 and I02 will form a double seal at the inner edges of the doors when closed. As stated above, the specific form of gasket is optional, as long as it is provided with spaced sides to receive a length of wood or similar material therebetween, and as long as it has a forward arcuate extension which may be flexed and deformed under pressure to form the seal. In other words, the ribs I6 may be dispensed with if desired. Furthermore, the specific form which the terminal portions of the wall members take may be modified so that they may both be provided with bent portions as shown at 68 and I2, or one of the wall portions may be positioned behind the gasket as shown at 83, or the construction may be like that shown at the inner edges of the doors. The main consideration in the gaskets is to provide a construction which can be easily assembled and yet which will effectively seal the cabinet against the escape of cold air from within or the entrance of warm air from the outside, and will seal the insulation against moisture, as well as eliminate the need for a fixed center post for the doors to close against.

The sealing means may take other specific forms than that illustrated herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. That is, by changing the positions of the various Wood blocks it may be possible to utilize ordinary tack-on gaskets for sealing and yet would prevent moisture from reaching the insulation.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that I have provided numerous advantages enabling the device to be utilized by a greater number of dairy farmers.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from that-disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages hereof, provided, however, that such changes fairly fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 2 Having thus described my invention whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a refrigerator of the class described, adapted to hold a container having a substance therein to be cooled, spray means substantially surrounding said container and spaced therefrom for passing a coolant in heat-exchange relation with said container, and means for imparting a rocking motion to said container within said spray means in a, plurality of different planes to agitate the substance therein, thereby reducing the cooling time therefor.

2. In a refrigerator of the class described, adapted to hold a container having a substance therein to be cooled, spray means substantially surrounding said container and spaced therefrom for passing a coolant in heat-exchange relation with said container, and means for rocking said container within said spray means in a plurality of different planes about an axisextending longitudinally and centrally thereof to agitate the substance therein, thereby reducing the cooling time therefor.

3. In a "refrigerator of the class described, adapted to hold a container-having a substance therein to be cooled, spray means substantially surrounding said container and spaced therefrom for passing. a, coolant in heat-exchange relation with said container,'and means for rocking one end of said container within said spray means in a plurality of different planes about a fixed axis extending longitudinally and centrally thereof to agitate the substance therein, thereby reducing the cooling time therefor.

4. In a refrigerator of the class described, adapted to hold a container having a substance therein to be cooled, spray means substantially surrounding said container and spaced therefrom for passing a coolant in heat-exchange relation with said container, a rack for supporting said container, means on the lower end of said rack for supporting the rack on a point substantially at the center thereof, and means at the top of said rack for revolving and rocking the rack about said point as a pivot, to thereby agitate the substance in said container during the cooling operation.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet adapted to receive a container for cooling. a movable agitator frame to-support a container during cooling, a track extending from the front of the cabinet to said frame having a plurality of transverse rollers thereon .to facilitate placement of a container therein, and rollerslocated in the base of said frame onto which a container may be moved from said track.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet adapted to receive a container for cooling, an agitator frame tiltable about the lower end thereof to support a container during cooling, 9. track extending from the front of said cabinet to said frame having a a container for cooling, a movable agitator frame having a base adapted to support a container during cooling, said base including a fixed supporting member and rollers on each side thereof to facilitate placement of a container therein, the rearmost roller being tapered at the ends thereof, whereby a container being moved rearwardly into said frame will roll off of said rearmost roller and rest on said'fixed member to thereby prevent the container from moving out of said frame during movement thereof.

8. In a refrigator of the class described, a refrigerating compartment having a plurality of chambers therein open at the top thereof, at least .one of said chambers having a perforated bottom, refrigerating means in each of said chambers, coolant distributing means at the top of another chamber, means for circulating a, coolant over said distributing means and downwardly through said other chamber and upwardly through the perforations in'the bottom of said one chamber in contact'with the refrigerating means in each chamber, and means to deliver the coolant from the last chamber in heat-exchange relation with a substance to be cooled.

9. In a refrigerator of the class described, a cabinet, an ice compartment located in the upper part thereof, means for freezing a quantity of ice in said compartment, means for circulating a liquid coolant over and around said ice and in heat-exchange relation with a substance to be cooled, and means for removably mounting said compartment on one of the walls of said cabinet, whereby said compartment may be easily dropped downwardly for cleaning purposes and the like.

10. A refrigerating cabinet for cooling milk cans comprising a supporting platform including a plurality of rollers at the lower part thereof adapted to slidingly receive and support a plurality of milk cans for storage purposes, a refrigerating compartment at the upper portion of the cabinet, and a shelf at the upper part of the cabinet adjacent said compartment to support additional milk cans.

JOSEPH W. CHAMBERLAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,814,915 Grayson July 14, 1931 2,032,130 Jurkat Feb. 25, 1936 2,094,774 Dawson Oct. 5, 1937 2,145,323 Stafford Jan. 31, 1939 2,183,221 Krug Dec. 12, 1939 2,188,839 Markley Jan. 30, 1940 2,249,660 Lee July 15, 1941 2,256,971 Chamberlain Sept. 23, 1941 2,285,947 Sateren June 9, 1942 2,360,189 Anderson Oct. 10, 1944 2,379,193 Shields June 26, 1945 2,380,901 Chamberlain July 31, 1945 2,448,453 Morrison Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,592 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1889 

